Carbon monoxide poisoning long term symptoms and effects continued

A good number of survivors are aware of at least some of the symptoms and effects from their carbon monoxide poisoning.

Other survivors may only be aware of a smaller number of symptoms and effects but are never-the-less being impacted in ways they have yet to recognize.

Still other survivors may say they feel "ok" but are in fact being impacted in ways they are unaware of, unwilling to admit to, or unable to express.

It takes watchful informed family members, friends, and observers to notice behavioral changes in a survivor and understand that the changes began after the carbon monoxide poisoning and are likely connected to it. These may well be behaviors that the survivor themself is unable to notice or admit to.

Unfortunately, if a survivor behaves in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable way, it is [much] more common for family, friends, and coworkers to feel disappointed, then as additional things happen feel annoyed, escalating to anger, and finally if it continues, backing away from the relationship.

Seldom do those close to a survivor understand that it is the ongoing effects from carbon monoxide poisoning that continue to impact the survivors behavior, functioning, and their relationship.

Things like missed appointments, forgotten special occasions, incomplete work, seemingly inappropriate behavior, mood instability, selfish/impulsive behavior, and unfamiliar reactions may baffle, frustrate, and annoy those around the survivor.

It may take time for those close to the survivor to understand that although the survivor may look "normal", sound "normal", and appear "normal", they have in fact changed and are behaving [somewhat] differently. Many may never recognize the reason for the change.

Even though carbon monoxide poisoning statistics are up to debate, the impact on the life of an unknown percentage of survivors is not. The long term effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can create circumstances that trigger a downward spiral in the life of a survivor. This further impacts the survivor and those close to them.

It is well known that major accidents, health challenges, and especially brain injuries create stressors on individuals and families that [can] significantly increase turmoil and tension within a household. These stressors set the stage for major life changes and the need to deal with some of the most stressful things that can happen to person: family breakup, moving homes, changes to friendships, job loss/change, and financial upheaval.

For a survivor this additional upheaval may occur at a time when they are having subtle or even serious difficulty with day-to-day functioning.

Sadly, a survivor and their family may never connect the dots and understand that carbon monoxide poisoning was the underlying cause that triggered the life changes.

Even for a fully healthy person, major life changes such as these are extremely stressful.

Stress causes the body to produce a substance called cortisol which helps restore balance to a variety of functions within the body and brain, particularly after the stress is gone.

Extended periods of stress cause destructive amounts of cortisol to be produced. This is damaging to a healthy person, it is unimaginably brutal on top of the kind of damage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The last thing a survivor needs is more strain on an already weakened brain and body.

Ongoing stress further impacts the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, heart and more. It increases the risk of heart attack and can extend, complicate, or even reverse the progress of an already long recovery.

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OMG

Michelle from Illinois

I have been though hell over the past several years. We discovered our leak from the furnance in spring of 2010. We moved here to this house in fall 2006. From 2006 to the present has been a living nightmare. I say \"we\" because I have children who were affected also. The furnace was right under their room! Both me and my children have suffered from depression and mood disorders. We all wanted to kill ourselves! Such anger was always usually present. I could care less if I ever eat again and my children have eating problems, too. I suffer most because of my depression I became isolatecd and hardly never went anywhere other than taking my children places and going to the store. I was sucking the gas up constantly! I was too sick to work, got fired from 3 different jobs (I couldn\'t even remember my employee number to punch in to work and numerous other things. I filed for disability and won. That was before we even found the leak! I even went to the hospital with dizzy spells, nausea and vomiting disorientation and they told me I was dehydrated! It happen THREE times. Maybe those were really cold days because they were in the months of Jan-March. It all makes sense now! We found our leak because other people who spent more than four hours at our house I noticed were all sick when they left! My boyfriends mother stayed the night to babysit and the next morning she was not feeling well and wanted to go to the ER! I have memory and concentration problems, balance problems, stomach problems, chronic cough, weakness, no energy and cannot do too much in one day. I will never be the same person I was and I cannot get anyone to listen to me. I\'m glad you understand my life as it is today. It\'s been two years since we got the leak fixed and I\'m still the same. My children seem to not have lasting efffects except my four year old. She was born into this house and she is behind for her age. She\'s in a \"special needs\" class at the local school to help her get \"caught up\" (if she can?). She was home with me sucking up the gas all day and night. I could go on more but this is long as it is. Thanks for understanding my friends....

migraine auras

Jude from Australia

I was seriously poisoned as a 7 or 8 year old, was in hospital for about 2 wks, and for I think for about 3 days of that was unconscious, bad headaches on waking, nausea etc. Was very bright child with extraordinary memory prior to event, but have had vague neuro problems since some time in teen years, but did not make connection till now, (am nearly 50 yrs now) recently started being diagnosed with significant migrane auras, but no demyelination detected, also heart murmur detected at 13 yrs, which has since resolved but been recognised again sporadically, I have lived with intermittent depression all my adult life. Does this concur with any one elses story???

Trying to understand

Jeanine from Illinois

For over a month I have been living upstairs from a family member who was burning the stove to heat their place and using a fan to blow the it up to where I was sleeping. I started to wakeup with headaches and my breathing start to change, I know something was wrong but didn't know what util I plugged in a CO detector. They have since fixed the heat, but I still have headaches when I wake and find myself having deeper sleep and unwanted naps during the day. My classes start in a month I hope this has no affect on it.

Memory

Christine from Ohio

On my bad days from the carbon monoxide poisoning I have a time remembering anything. I will forget a whole morning. I forget to eat. I forget my own phone number on my bad days. I have to keep my cell phone next to me so if I have an emergency that I can dial. Otherwise I would be in trouble. I also have this ear popping thing that annoys me since the carbon monoxide it sounds like popcorn popping in the ear.

My brain that said was damaged from the carbon monoxide. It is very hard on my bad days to do a lot. Even making phone calls and talking down the number. I end up writing it backwards I have to go slow and take my time with it..

I have permanent neuro symptoms from mine.

...at last, the answer!!

Sandra Hiser from Livermore, CA

I have been spending thousands of dollars on trying to figure out why I am depressed, lethargic, forgetful, anxious and have become a hermit in the last two years. Previously, I was fully engaged in life.

We recently found out the furnace has been leaking carbon monoxide for many years. At last, it makes sense. Thanks for this website....it covers more symptoms and solutions than anywhere else.

The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up

Nigel

Holy crap this exactly nails what happened to me like nothing else I have ever read. I was poisoned years ago.

My life blew apart in the years following poisoning and I was unable to make sense of why. All I knew is that almost everything changed.

I had a stable life, friends, job, and relationship then everything changed within 3 years of being poisoned - and they were not easy changes - they were really rough.

Angela

This is amazing...I was posioned 28 years ago and my memory has been terrible since then.

I never connected the dots, but to this day I have trouble remembering things as recent as hours before.

Rebecca from Georgia

I feel like I'm reading about myself, my job, my friends and family. Luckily, we were somewhat aware I was getting sick. After 3 years of torturous recovery, I'm more like myself than ever, but I'll never be the same. I have permanent neurological symptoms.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning Long term symptoms and effects (part 2)

Carbon monoxide poisoning
Long term symptoms and effects (part 2)